(CNN) – Mia Lillis knew that she was gay when she was 12. She felt lucky to attend a public high school in Austin, Texas, that was highly supportive and had a gay student alliance. Then she arrived at the University of Notre Dame.

She enrolled there because Notre Dame's reputation as a premier Catholic school appealed to her family. But from the very first day, Lillis was scared.

She searched for a gay and lesbian student organization. There was none. She sought out literature for gay students. Again, nothing.

"It gave me the impression that Notre Dame didn't care about queer students," said Lillis, 20. "It was pretty intimidating."

She went back in the closet. She even considered transferring. "I would say a lot of gay students think that way," she said.

After a five-month review process, Notre Dame made the recommendations in a comprehensive pastoral plan that the university said is grounded in its Catholic mission.

“As articulated in the university’s ‘Spirit of Inclusion’ statement, Notre Dame’s goal remains to create and sustain a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, and I am confident that this multi-faceted, pastoral approach represents the next step in advancing our efforts toward this aspiration for our GLBTQ students," said the Rev. John Jenkins, president of the university.

The university said it will create a student organization that will offer support and services to GLBTQ students and form an advisory committee to provide guidance on such matters.

It will also appoint a full-time student development staff member to oversee new programs and ensure that they help emphasize Notre Dame's goal of inclusion.

"Rooted in Catholic teaching on sexuality and gender identity, the plan emphasizes the 'respect, compassion and sensitivity' due to all, and calls all Notre Dame students to cultivate chaste relationships and to support one another in a community of friendship," said a university news release.

Lillis said the actions were huge for a school that has not been welcoming to gay students and has often found itself atop national lists of gay-unfriendly schools. Too bad, she said, because she found the students to be accepting of her. But they had not been afforded the channels to vocalize their thoughts. The climate was one of silence on gay issues.

Alex Coccia, who helped spearhead the student effort to change things at Notre Dame, said a new environment will be especially a big deal for questioning students.

"People need to have a safe environment to go through that process especially in college, which is a trying time for everybody," said Coccia, 21.

Coccia has been involved in bringing change to Notre Dame for a while. He is part of a coalition called the 4 to 5 Movement – named for data that say four out of five Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 support gay civil rights - that raised a gay-unfriendly profile of Notre Dame on social media.

A video posted on YouTube highlighted Notre Dame's treatment of gays, including its refusal several times to authorize a gay student organization and to exclude sexual orientation in its non-discrimination clause.

Conservative Catholics oppose the idea of a university that espouses the values of Catholicism catering to homosexuality.

The Sycamore Trust, which says its goal is to protect the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, expressed concern on its website, saying the university's support of a gay club "would give grave scandal damaging to the church, to the university, to students, and to other Catholic institutions and would establish a potential source of serious mischief within the school."

It went on to say, "Surely it is predictable that a group whose organizing principle is same-sex attraction is likely to be a forum, overt or covert, for opposition to the Church’s teachings about homosexuality. It may also become an instrumentality in the student 'hookup' culture."

Others were more accepting.

Kevin Rhoades, the bishop of the Indiana diocese where Notre Dame is located, said the university's plan affirms Catholic teachings that men and women with homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”

Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter wrote that Notre Dame's decision was not just the right thing to do but a courageous act.

Karl Abad said Notre Dame has taken a big step.

"I have no idea how the future debates about the moral issues raised by homosexuality will play out, but I do know that Notre Dame is here insisting on the fact that, whatever our theological views on human sexuality, we also have a Christian obligation to 'create a community where all may flourish and feel welcome, where we aspire to an even deeper understanding and appreciation of Catholic teaching, and where the human dignity of each Notre Dame student is valued,' " Winters wrote. "That, too, is part of our Catholic moral tradition."

Openly gay student Karl Abad, 21, said he hoped prospective students will no longer have a fear of enrolling at Notre Dame like he did.

"We now will have a place where gay students can get together," he said. "I am expecting a lot more student involvement in terms of gay issues."

He said GLBTQ students will no longer have to go underground to seek support.

He applauded the university's decision, acknowledging the difficulty in balancing a Catholic identity with policies that are inclusive of gay students. In that respect, he said, Notre Dame has taken a giant step.

soundoff(68 Responses)

KBM

I went to Loyola University New Orleans from 2002-2006 and the school had LGBTQ groups that I was able to get involved in. The school also supported student members of the LGBTQ community. I was raised Catholic, and I do not agree with every stance the Catholic church has, which is why I am no longer a practicing Catholic. However, I can say with pride of my alma mater that I was supported throughout my college experience as were other members of the LGBTQ community.

Imagine the world we would have if everyone who had a pet sin didn't agree with everything the Church taught. Men who are tempted to cheat on their wives didn't agree with the Church on that. Those who loved por.nography didn't agree with the church on that... Why there wouldn't be any sin left at all. No I think you better search a little deeper if you disagree with 2000 years of Church teaching because it's "your sin". Trust not in your own understanding it says in prov. 3:5.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems Ms. Lillis's fears were unfounded. The university is going to form a new student organization, something that's hardly surprising. I just don't see how this is a big deal.

Sad that people can hate a religion. I went to parochial school for 12 years. I was taught NEVER to judge another. To be accepting of everyone. Bullying was non existant. I suppose everyone sees a different slant on reality. This is my slant. I love living life according to what I learned. I love my church.

Hate has nothing to do with it, unless you're talking about those who sneer, saying "breeders" as if it were a dirty word, at happy mothers and fathers and their naturally begotten children. These sneering ones seem to forget they wouldn't exist except for the Natural, normal, activities of one male and one female couple, committed to one-another.

Naturally begotten children... what a disgusting thing to say. Main point of the article aside, there are thousands of children in this world who are here only through artificial insemination – and they have one mother and one father. Are they unnatural?

Gods law. Not man's. As modern Babylon becomes more apparent I hope that others will see the reason for God's LAW. An unrepentant society has no future. We are about to find out just how wrong this country has become.

If people want to be treated equally treat them equally, dont make support groups, if they can make a gay support group isn't it fair to make a support group for being straight. I have nothing against the gays they can believe what ever they want to it really isn't any of my business. I'm just saying that we should treat people equally by giving advantages to everyone.

Is that disease you are talking about religion? I don't think there is a medication for that one, yet. But you can get rid of it by realizing that fantasy lands and super natural powers don't exist. God is the explanation for everything and nothing.

Roman catholicism has nothing to do what soever with Apostolic Christianity found in the Book of Acts "If the blind lead the blind they both fall into a ditch" In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them

Jim- the accusations shouldn't be hurtful the actions were-according to what I've read the vast majority of pediophiles are straight- I wonder if the church has determined how many of their pediophiles are gay. When is the church going to take away ND's religious affiliation

Congrats Notre Dame! thats fantastic. As a practicing and proud catholic, who fully supports gay rights, this article makes me so happy. It shows that change is possible even in some of the strictest of religions.

Jim – I don't think the reference was to the molestation scandal. More a comment about the vast majority of all priests and nuns, both historically and today, being gay. It was always the safe haven that allowed them to find acceptance and purpose in life while escaping societal and family pressures to get married. Of course as society evolves (in the best meaning of the word) the need to use church or convent as an escape route becomes much less significant. But no question most priests and nuns are gay, and always have been. Those that accept themselves, and find a natural (albeit discreet) "outlet" with like minded colleagues are well-adjusted. And those who are conflicted and repressed sometimes do things they shouldn't (now there's the molestation reference you were looking for).

The catholic mission? Open, heathy gayness and the catholic religion don't see eye to eye...are they going to advocate for equal rights? No. Inclusive participation? No..wonder what those catholic priests are doing? Hope the aren't trying to shop around for their next repressed fling. Wouldnt trust the Catholics if they claimed they had a hand written letter for god. They do not care about those they exclude and hurt.

The same bible that most (religious) Americans use. Being gay is an abomination and eating shrimp or catfish is an abomination. Same crime. I like shrimp, so I’m okay with people choosing their partners by how they feel.

lionlylamb...you do not impress me at all. You think you are smart, smarter than just about everyone that is around you. However, I find you really stupid sounding. Remember that when you are looking at yourself in the mirror and telling yourself how intelligent you are.

I'm not really sure I understand. How is not having a support group the same as not being "friendly"? Did they allow gay students to be harassed before this? Did they kick students out if they found out they were gay?

I'm handicapped. I've been to many places that didn't have support specifically for handicapped people. That never made me feel unwelcome. Now, not being able to get into the john - THAT made me feel unwelcome. :)

I guess reading comprehension is not one of your strong suits? Segregated? Not at all. Anyone can join the GLBT Alliance, in fact many "straight" people do. But just like so many other organizations, the Alliance gives this group a chance to get together, discuss issues, and god only knows they're many. Maybe you don't see or fight discrimination, or verbal or phdical abuse, but many GBKT people do every day. How many suicides do we see in teens because other students are relentless in harassment and abuse? No, it's not segregated, maybe survival. Jesus taught compassion, love the sinner, hate the sin. Of course many GLBT do not see the sin because there isn't any, but that's a different argument. The school is doing the right thing, and should have done it sooner, but better late than never.

Many of us who are white support african-americans in their fight for full equality and support latinos in their fight for inclusion as do many of us who are straight support gays and lesbians in their fight for dignity and respect.

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